The Alternative to Loneliness

Ch. 18

At the End Together, Friends

When Harry arrived that morning for breakfast, it was to find the entirety of Slytherin House jammed up together at either end of the Slytherin table, leaving a large expanse of empty space between them. In the middle of this were four people.

He walked up to Draco and Blaise, about to ask who the other two were, when the girl turned around. "Hello, Harry," Luna said. "You look as if you've gotten some sleep at least."

"Luna? Colin? What are you doing here?"

"Oh, we are eating breakfast," she stated simply. "They have plum jam this morning and it tastes lovely if you swirl it in your porridge."

Harry looked over at Draco, who nodded toward Blaise and then moved out the seat beside him. "Good morning, Love. Have a nice shower?"

"Well enough," Harry said and looked over toward Seamus, who had just seated himself at the Gryffindor table with Ron and Hermione. The young Irish boy had been humming in the shower and had reminded Harry of what he'd seen early this morning. "Why isn't Seamus sitting here?"

Luna sat up straight and said, "Yes Blaise, why isn't Seamus sitting here with you? Did you not know that you could have your boyfriend sit with you at your table even if he is from another house?"

Colin coughed, sending a spray of toast crumbs flying across the table. Draco grimaced and set his now-tainted plate aside, then reached for a fresh one and started filling it.

Blaise took a long draw from his tea and set the cup back down. "I suppose associating with Draco the Traitor, Harry the Boy Wonder, Shutter Boy, and the lovely Loony has made me outcast enough," he said.

"Oh, I suppose it is that you also care about making Seamus an outcast too, is that it?" Luna said.

"Yes, some of it," he admitted. "I don't want everybody to shun him because we've been shagging for two years."

"He understood what might happen should he love a Slytherin," Luna said gently, setting a hand on his arm. "I am sure he would like to go public, but is concerned about you."

Blaise smiled thankfully at Luna. "I suppose I just need to show how much Gryffindor he's gotten in me and do it."

She beamed at him and then turned to Colin. "Do you think house qualities can be passed on like that? If so, I am sure I am quite a bit more brave."

Harry and Draco both choked on their tea at this.

Colin went Gryffindor red and said, "I know I've gotten quite a bit smarter."

Blaise laughed, then stood and walked around the table. The four remaining turned to watch as he made his way along the aisle between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff until he came to where his lover sat. They spoke for a moment, then Seamus pulled him down to kiss him rather intensely. Beside him, Ron looked about as if his head were going to explode. Draco smirked upon seeing this.

After what seemed like an hour, Blaise and Seamus finally parted and the Irish boy rose from his seat. Hermione rose to follow, but then Ron caught her arm and they started arguing. Though the Hall was buzzing, Harry was sure he could make out Hermione's shrill voice, as it became when she was incredibly fed-up with Ron. Finally, when Blaise and Seamus were pulling out chairs for each other next to Luna, Hermione snatched her hand back from Ron and stormed over to the Slytherin table to join them.

"That was very sweet, Blaise," Luna said. "Hello Seamus."

"Hi Luna," the Irish boy greeted her, his arm tight around Blaise and a broad smile on his face. "Is that plum jam in your porridge?"

"It is! Do you like jam in your porridge too, Seamus?"

"Aye, I do. Apricot jam's my favourite, though."

Blaise smirked and kissed Seamus' cheek. "How lucky am I? My best friend and my boyfriend have something in common to talk about."

"Harry, scootch over?"

Harry looked up to see that Hermione had arrived. "I'm sorry Ron didn't come too," she said, her face still red from yelling. "He's being difficult."

"What's new?" Harry said.

"He'll come around," Hermione assured him. "He knows this makes you happy. He just doesn't want to be seen with Slytherins."

"I assure you," Blaise said. "Any Slytherins sitting here would not be seen as such by the rest of our house."

They all settled into comfortable conversation then, being ignored by a good deal of the rest of the student body. Then, when they were all taking one last serving of mash, somebody said behind them, "What is this, Gryffoholics Anonymous?"

They looked up to see Ginny with her hand tight around Ron's wrist. He looked like a kneazle who'd been stuffed in doll clothes, the way he was scowling. Beside them was a Hufflepuff girl with short-cropped blonde hair and a long silver earring in one ear.

"Hi Ginny," Colin piped up. "Hi...you're Mary, right?"

"You know me?" the girl said.

"Ginny's told me about you."

"Ohhhhh," Mary said and turned to look at Ginny. Then they kissed.

That was too much for Ron. "KNOCK IT OFF YOU TWO!" he snapped, trying in vain to free himself from Ginny's vice grip.

Ginny pulled her head back from Mary, but was still holding the Hufflepuff tight to her body. "Was there something you wanted, Ron?" she said.

"Quit kissing in front of me! It's weird enough being at the Slytherin table, just let me go and stop snogging!"

Ginny rolled her eyes and went back to kissing Mary while Ron continued to try to yank his hand free.

Luna was looking dreamily on, then turned to Colin and began kissing him. Harry was trying hard not to laugh at Ron's frantic attempts to escape. Draco saw this and turned Harry to face him. "It wouldn't do for Ron to see you laughing," he said and pulled Harry's lips down to his. Immediately, he forgot about Ron and everybody else at the table.

Ron's eyes were just about popping out of his head and he redoubled his efforts to free himself, but Ginny held fast. Hermione rose from her chair and put her hands on his shoulder. "Come on, Ron. Ginny's just trying to get a rise out of you."

"Yeah? Well it's working!" he said, yanking his arm extra hard, then winced and rubbed his shoulder. "Bugger!"

"Yes?" Seamus said, then smirked at Blaise and they too started kissing.

"Cut it out!" Ron fumed.

"Ron," Hermione said, putting her hands to his face now. "The more you tell them to stop, the more they'll keep doing it. So why not just join in?"

"WHAT?! I'm not kissing one of them!"

Hermione's face drew closer to his. "You're missing the point," she murmured. "But then why should I be surprised. You're maddeningly dense."

"Hey!" Ron began to protest, but was quietened by Hermione's lips clamping down on his.

They had all quite forgotten where they were by the time Snape arrived. After several clearings of the throat, the five couples looked up, all quite a bit breathless. Snape glowered at them. "I do believe this is the Slytherin Table, not the Gryffindor Harem," he sneered.

Ron opened his mouth to retort, but Hermione stamped down hard on his foot. Snape saw this and raised an eyebrow. "I'm feeling generous today, and so will only take thirty points from Gryffindor and warn you to leave this table at once."

"Are you not taking points from Ravenclaw, then?" Luna said, much to everybody's astonishment.

"You are in the company of a Gryffindor. I'm sure he's the one who dragged you here."

"Oh no, I am the one who brought him," she said. "So may I have points taken in his place?"

Snape looked down at her as if he had never seen the like of her. Blaise cleared his throat. "And I brought Seamus over."

"I came on my own," Harry put in. "Go ahead and take double from me, if you want."

Snape regarded them, then straightened his robes. "Very well. Forty from Gryffindor and ten from Ravenclaw. Now anybody not belonging to Slytherin, leave before I make it more."

Harry and Seamus both stood, only to find that Draco and Blaise had as well. "What are you doing?" Harry whispered to Draco.

Draco waved toward the two ends of the table, where the rest of his house was watching with disdain. "They hardly seem to think I belong," he said. "And it's their loss, shunning me."

"Blaise," Luna spoke up as they moved down the aisle. "Wouldn't it be wonderful for us all to go out together, like a quintuple date?"

Blaise looked at Draco. "I wouldn't mind in the least, but there are hardly many places certain present company would approve of."

"Oh, but nobody has disliked my pumpkin pudding on pound cake before," she said.

"Did you say pumpkin pudding on pound cake?" Ron piped up, a hungry look in his eyes.

"We will have a dinner party," Luna continued. "In the Room of Requirement, Saturday evening at seven o'clock."

"Splendid!" Blaise beamed. "Just like old times."

~*~^~*~

Four o'clock Saturday afternoon found Luna, Colin, Seamus, and Blaise walking back and fourth through the hallways in which was the Room of Requirement. Colin and Luna had taken to using it in lieu of closets so often recently, it was difficult for him to keep his mind on the request at hand. There were plenty of other uses he would have much rather put the Room to than a dinner party, but there was all the time in the world for that sort of thing after.

On the third pass, the door to the Room appeared and the four of them stepped in. The walls were a dark stained wood with a long mahogany table set in the middle of the room, ten chairs set up along its length. Along the far wall was a china cabinet with a drawer full of silver and candles. In another wall was a large window, looking into a small, cozy kitchen. And lastly, set into the wall beside the china cabinet was a small door.

Luna looked at the door and turned to Colin. "I wouldn't mind it," she said. "But we must wait until after."

Colin went scarlet.

Blaise and Seamus watched them and sniggered. "Come on then, Luna," the Slytherin said, taking her arm. "Let's go start dinner."

"Can I help?" Colin asked, rushing along behind them.

"I think it would be lovely," Luna said, "If you would set the table for us. You have a keen artistic eye and I am sure it will look splendid."

Seamus didn't bother asking if he could help, but followed them into the kitchen and immediately got underfoot in his attempt to lend a hand.

Blaise and Luna maneuvered around the room, perfectly synchronized, as they measured and chopped and sautéed. Seamus cut his finger twice, trying to chop some zucchini Luna had just washed and was asked to sit by the icebox and keep them company with some gossip.

Outside in the dining room, Colin got a long lace tablecloth out of the drawer and laid it on the table, then began setting out the china. After he had set out the large plates and bowls and a fork, knife, and spoon at each place, he noticed that there was still a great deal of china and silver left. He scratched his head and picked up a fork with three spiky-looking tines. Maybe it was a wizard thing, he mused, then looked down to find that a place-setting diagram had appeared in front of him, along with instructions on the back for the use of each utensil and plate.

Draco and Harry arrived just as he was placing the last candleholder on the table. Harry, who knew he was better off out of the way, though he could fry up a mean side of bacon, sat at the newly set table, pulling at his tie. Draco headed straight for the kitchen to show Blaise and Luna how things should be done, only to be sent off to sit with Seamus after he'd scorched a saucepan trying to boil some water.

When Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Mary arrived, Ron looked like he was about to die. "Merlin, that food had better be almost done," he moaned, rubbing his stomach. "I haven't eaten since lunch!"

"Oh, six whole hours, you have my deepest sympathy," Ginny said, rolling her eyes.

"So I guess the rumors are true," Mary smirked.

"What rumors?" Seamus, Blaise, and Draco all said in unison.

"That Ron Weasley will collapse from hunger pains if he hasn't had something to eat in an hour."

Ginny, Hermione, and Harry all burst out laughing and Seamus said, "Right in one, Mary! I like this girl. Ginny, where ever did you find her?"

"Hufflepuff vs. Gryffindor last year," she said, pulling the blonde girl against her side.

"Oh, right! You're the Keeper," Ron said, his ears still bright red. "That dive you made in the first match this year was brilliant!"

"Oh Merlin," Ginny said, rolling her eyes as Mary and Ron began talking Keeper technique. "At least I know he approves."

Blaise appeared then with a tray full of food. "Here we are, hors d'oeuvres," he said.

"Those look good, what are they?" Ron asked, rushing over.

"Food. Isn't that all you need to know?" Ginny said.

"Weasley," Draco said, following Seamus out of the kitchen. "Can't you even try to be a bit more refined? This is a dinner party, not feeding time at the trough. At least I see you've dressed up...such as it is," he added, taking in the several inches of ankle showing below the hem of Ron's dress robes.

Ron bristled. "Fod off Walfoy!" he snarled, sending crumbs flying.

Draco made a face and brushed the crumbs off the front of his robes. Six months ago, he would have tossed him to Crabbe and Goyle. It really was a testament, he mused, to how much he'd changed and how much he loved Harry that he only said, "Oh, witty comeback, Weasley. I've surely been cut down a few notches."

Ron made an obscene gesture and stalked off across the room. Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh dear, we'll be right back."

Presently, Luna exited the kitchen, her arms and head stacked with the first course. Everybody took their cue and sat down and Luna was just about to head back in for more plates, when Blaise caught her arm. "Sit down and enjoy your dinner party, Lovely."

"Oh, but the food will never be served that way," she said.

He pecked her on the cheek and pulled her down to sit in the chair beside him. "All taken care of," he said and snapped his fingers.

In an instant, a small house elf appeared wearing a champagne bottle sleeve like a dress. She made a low, sweeping bow and said, "Master Blaise is calling?"

"Oh look, it is Bubbly!" Luna exclaimed, petting the little elf on the head. "It is very lovely to see you. Do you remember me?"

"Miss is asking if Bubby is remembering Master Blaisie's best friend? Bubby is remembering, indeed. Miss Luna is always being nice and kind to Master Blaise and Bubby is thanking Miss Luna most gratefully for her kindness."

"We are having a dinner party, Bubbly, just like when Blaise and I were little!" Luna said. "Will you be so kind as to serve us?"

"Bubby is very happy to do so, Miss Luna!" Bubby...or was it Bubbly? said with another sweeping bow.

Everybody took their seats then. Ron was keen to grab Mary so they could continue their talk. Draco took one head of the table and as Hermione chose to sit across from Harry, this placed her beside Draco (an arrangement Ron was none too pleased about). Seamus was quick to grab the seat between Harry and Blaise, and Colin found himself being directed toward the other head of the table.

As the courses were set out, they fell into conversation. Ron detoured from his Keeper talk to complain about the cutlery ("One fork, one spoon, one knife! Why do we even need knives, anyways? They just take up room." "You need knives so you don't choke, Weasley."). Seamus was sharing sex tips with Harry, who hadn't asked, was turning bright red, mumbling that this wasn't the best place to be talking about such things, and was committing every word to memory for later. Blaise, Luna, and Bubby were sharing childhood stories with Colin. Draco and Hermione were discussing their experimentation with aphrodisiacal potions. And Ginny was sliding her hand up Mary's thigh under the table, causing the Hufflepuff to drop her food on more than one occasion.

By the time dessert rolled around, Luna's pumpkin pudding on pound cake was brought out with little candles of all four house colours. Blaise opened the bottle of champagne Bubby brought out and filled everybody's glass, including the little elf's. Then he raised his flute and said, "I would like to propose a toast!"

"Ooooh, and what will you be toasting to?" Luna said, clapping her hands.

"To everybody shagging the one they love, and that no house is left a virgin."

Ron choked and Hermione smacked him hard on the back. "Er...Hermione," he whispered. "When are we getting around to that?"

"If you keep asking, maybe never," she said.

"Say Ginny," Seamus called across the table. "How do two girls shag?"

Ron choked again and Ginny opened her mouth to answer. "GINNY!" he exclaimed.

She glared at him, then turned to Seamus with a cheeky grin. "As we are, there's really no shagging. It's mostly just foreplay."

Seamus pouted. "That's a shame for you," he said.

"That's disgusting is what it is," Ron said, pushing away his dessert.

"But there are accessories," Mary added.

"Ooooo, I love accessories," Blaise said, his eyes shining.

"So do we," Mary and Ginny said in unison.

"That sounds lovely, Mary," Luna said. "What sort of accessories? Colin and I are always interested in new things."

Colin nearly spit out his champagne.

"Call them add-ons," Ginny said, waving her fork in the air. "It's not all foreplay, after all. Sometimes a girl just needs a good fuck."

Ron choked a third time, his face gone as red as a Chinese Fireball. Ginny watched him, amused, then continued on to explain the mechanics of all the different sorts of accessories. Luna, Blaise, Seamus, and Draco all listened on with interest.

As the evening wound down, their numbers diminished in twos. First to leave were Mary and Ginny, all the talk of accessories having made them quite keen on breaking theirs out. Next, Ron and Hermione got in a row and were very nearly shagging by the time they'd reached the door. Seamus and Blaise stayed as long as they could, but it was getting very difficult to keep their hands to themselves.

Last to leave were Harry and Draco. Luna and Colin had been glancing toward the small door by the china cabinet all night and Draco had a suspicion as to what that was about. Finally, when it looked as if Luna wasn't going to wait any longer and was about to jump the little Gryffindor where he sat, Draco stood up and pulled Harry to his side. "Well, I think we'll be off. I think the champagne's gone to our heads and we could do with a little lie-in."

"I am sure you don't mean you will sleep," Luna said and Draco noticed Harry blush.

"Well, as it is, if we stick around any longer, you and Colin might never get around to your own little lie-in, so we will bid you good night." He stepped toward Luna and raised her hand to his lips. "Thank you for the lovely party," he said and kissed the back of her hand.

"You are most welcome," she said, smiling at him.

Then Draco straightened and regarded Luna's squirming Gryff. "Colin," he said. "I would like to extend my thanks to you, as well. I was right to place you in my employ. You will be receiving proof of my gratitude soon." Then he gave Colin a rare smile and he and Harry left the room.

Really, he thought as they made their way to the Slytherin dungeons. If it hadn't been for the tiny lion, he might not have the love of his life in his arms tonight. His plan had worked, after all.